{"id":854,"date":"2019-01-03T11:32:48","date_gmt":"2019-01-03T10:32:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=854"},"modified":"2019-01-03T11:32:48","modified_gmt":"2019-01-03T10:32:48","slug":"no-room-at-the-inn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=854","title":{"rendered":"No Room at the Inn"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here is our short thought from Christmas morning.<\/p>\n

Luke 2 . 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.<\/em><\/p>\n

Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room in our lives for Jesus.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. But it is so easy to forget whose birthday we are celebrating. We send each other cards and give each other presents. We have a big party dinner \u2013 but whose birthday is it??<\/p>\n

God can be squeezed out of Christmas. We can be too caught up in the tree and the decorations and the lights and the tinsel. Or in the cards and the presents. Or in the turkey and the sprouts and the Christmas pudding and the mince pies.
\nEach of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room in our lives for Jesus.
\nTHOU DIDST LEAVE THY THRONE and Thy kingly crown,
\nWhen Thou camest to earth for me;
\nBut in Bethlehem\u2019s home there was found no room For Thy holy nativity:
\nO come to my heart, Lord Jesus! There is room in my heart for Thee.<\/p>\n

It is great when we make space for Jesus at Christmas. It is so good to remember whose birthday we are celebrating. But it is even better when we remember Jesus all year around. God longs \u2013 and deserves \u2013 to be at the centre of all our lives, all the time.<\/p>\n

Years ago there was an ADVERT \u2013 “A dog is for life, not just for Christmas.”
\n
\nEven more true \u2013 God is for life, not just for Christmas<\/strong>
\nJesus can so easily be squeezed out of our lives. Busy jobs. Busy family. Sports and hobbies and entertainments can all get in the way of us following Jesus. The inn did not have any room for Mary and Joseph, and lots of people don\u2019t have room for Jesus in their lives either.
\nEach of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room in our lives for Jesus.<\/p>\n

Words from IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER (it\u2019s CAROL 10 on the sheets)
\nWhat can I give Him, Poor as I am?
\nIf I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb.
\nIf I were a wise man, I would do my part;
\nYet what I can I give Him\u2014 Give my heart.
\nShe wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
\nEach of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room in our lives for Jesus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here is our short thought from Christmas morning. Luke 2 . 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be…<\/span><\/p>\n

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